Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

[Satnam]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

So if there was someone speeding and weaving in and out of traffic, and you flashed your lights - not knowing that person was amongst the speeders.

Would you feel good that they slowed down and didn't get a ticket, then a few miles later when the bad driving resumed and they crashed into someone.

I stopped flashing a long time ago, the only time I flash now is for an accident or wildlife, some people flash when someone is speeding just to slow them down for a while.

[stefan]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

thats a little extreme...

[P Arkus]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

So if there was someone speeding and weaving in and out of traffic, and you flashed your lights - not knowing that person was amongst the speeders.

Would you feel good that they slowed down and didn't get a ticket, then a few miles later when the bad driving resumed and they crashed into someone.

I stopped flashing a long time ago, the only time I flash now is for an accident or wildlife, some people flash when someone is speeding just to slow them down for a while.

Speeding doesnt cause accidents, stupidity causes accidents

I flash cause there are hundreds of people who are smart drivers, are doing a little over the speed limit, so I try to save them some time and some money. Sure it only slows them down for a while, but i'm not doing it to stop them from speeding, I do it to stop the tax collectors from getting more money.

Besides, those that are speeding and weaving in and out of traffic, are probably so busy being cool they either a) wouldnt even notice me flashing or b) wouldnt know wtf i'm flashing for

[Shoppingcart111]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

Unfortuantely if you read the traffic act it is illegal to flash your lights, The traffic act is about 3 inches thick and there's alot of rules in there that half the cops dont even know about cause who's going to read it cover to cover. Taking your hand off the wheel and waving at someone is ticketable, honking your horn at someone for no reason unless emergerncy situation is ticketable, driving in sandals, barefoot ot heels is ticketable, get the picture.

[onepointeightdub]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

Unfortuantely if you read the traffic act it is illegal to flash your lights, The traffic act is about 3 inches thick and there's alot of rules in there that half the cops dont even know about cause who's going to read it cover to cover. Taking your hand off the wheel and waving at someone is ticketable, honking your horn at someone for no reason unless emergerncy situation is ticketable, driving in sandals, barefoot ot heels is ticketable, get the picture.

that makes it sound like driving is illegal in itself.

[stefan]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

Unfortuantely if you read the traffic act it is illegal to flash your lights, The traffic act is about 3 inches thick and there's alot of rules in there that half the cops dont even know about cause who's going to read it cover to cover. Taking your hand off the wheel and waving at someone is ticketable, honking your horn at someone for no reason unless emergerncy situation is ticketable, driving in sandals, barefoot ot heels is ticketable, get the picture.

please post section, I couldn't find it (it is large...).

[P Arkus]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

that makes it sound like driving is illegal in itself.

hahaha thats probably the unofficial title of the traffic act..."driving is illegal!"

[Shoppingcart111]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

I dont have the scetion of the act handy but here's some of the fines they can get you for it. The 115 is the current penalty, the 69 is the old penatly. Prices went up huge, being a sportbiker in edmonton, i've grown to know some of the act and how to work it in court if the need arises.

56(1)
Direction / intensity of distribution of light / composite
beam on alighted headlamp fail to reveal person / motor
vehicle at safe distance 115 69
56(2)(a)
Fail to use low-beam when oncoming vehicle within 300
m 115 69
56(2)(b)
Fail to use low-beam when within 150 m of rear of other
vehicle 115 69

[stefan]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

that kinda makes sense, because from what I was reading, cases where this come up involve blinding people at night. It would seem in a dispute, flashing during the day isn't a big deal at all, and during the night it could be a concern if you are putting the other driver at risk. Ultimately, you are free to communicate with other drivers.

Although highbeams are mentioned, flashing is not specifically mentioned. Open to interpretation, IMO

document is here if anyone cares...:
http://canlii.org/en/ab/laws/regu/al...-304-2002.html

** also reading that from the cop's end, if you flash a cop, they will likely pull you over regardless, as it could be a potential distress signal. Of course if he knows his buddy is up the road pulling people over, he's probably more inclined to find another reason to ticket you.

[Shoppingcart111]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

It all ultimately comes down to officer discretion.

[Stonewall]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

The only flash I give to people speeding through school and playground zones is with my middle finger.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

haha yea my neighbourhood has a 30 limit.. and the airdrie cops actually love to sit every week or so around my culdesac and catch people which i'm all for as i live next to a playground

but i see people speeding all the time driving myself or walking the dogs and i swear and finger/honk at them so bad

last friday this idiot in a civic was doing about 70 right as i was going to turn into my cully.. so i honked and stuck my head out and yelled slow down you stupid mother FF.. he pretty much locked the brakes up and had a sad dog look going on.. my neighbour was outside gardening and could not stop laughing hahaha

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

I would just prefer they spend this much time and effort dealing with the drugs and prostitution in my area, but guess that is not so lucrative.

[uv23]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

Truly. It's a cash cow, period. I could go on and on arguing about it but they've already wasted enough of my time. I ended up just paying the ticket because my record is clean and my time is worth more than $78. And flashing is not illegal at all during the day. The only time cops could ever make a case is if you do it in the evening, as it can blind or startle other drivers.

[MusicalGenius]

Re: Cops tried to give me a ticket for flashing my lights!

I would just prefer they spend this much time and effort dealing with the drugs and prostitution in my area, but guess that is not so lucrative.

In your area I wouldn't be surprised if off duty cops frequented those services …

Then again Victoria Park/Beltline has come a long way over the past four years. Maybe by the time another four roll by your area will have cleaned up?